Behind the Scenes with Katie Osborne: Real Talk from a Nashville Wedding Planner

Behind the Scenes with Katie Osborne: Real Talk from a Nashville Wedding Planner:

At the heart of a seamless wedding day is a planner who brings clarity, calm and creativity to every detail. As a wedding florist, I love getting to know the wedding teams I work with to understand the day's flow better and make connections with incredible people in the wedding industry. The wedding planner is such a critical part of the wedding day, and it is imperative that I understand my role and how to make the day as seamless as possible. 

Hi! It’s me, Maegan, with The Floral Pop, a local Nashville florist and wedding vendor, and I had the incredible opportunity of sitting down with Katie Osborne, the Owner of Katie Osborne Wedding and Event Coordination, located right here in Nashville, TN. With seven years owning her own business and twelve years of wedding experience, Katie has built a reputation in the Nashville wedding scene for her transparency, heartfelt dedication and ability to help couples feel present in their own celebration. We sat down with her to discuss the real costs of weddings, the importance of strong vendor relationships, and the trends she’s seeing emerge for 2025.

Katie’s career officially began twelve years ago, but her business became official in 2017. Before she became a full-time planner, she spent five years balancing wedding planning with a career in teaching, a background that shines through in her ability to guide, educate and lead her clients with empathy. She shared that one of her favorite parts of being a planner is the trust her clients place in her. She loves witnessing the emotional moments when couples let go of logistics and immerse themselves in their wedding day. Even during high-stress moments, such as two recent weddings that took place under tornado warnings,

Katie finds joy in helping couples stay grounded and present during challenging moments. 

While the wedding day is filled with beauty and celebration, Katie is candid about the challenges that come with the job. One of the most challenging tasks is steering couples toward backup plans, especially when weather threatens to disrupt their outdoor dreams. Budget constraints can also be tricky to navigate, particularly when families get involved later in the process with their own expectations. Building trust with both the couple and their families is key, and it’s something she’s learned to balance with grace.

Katie is refreshingly honest when it comes to managing expectations around wedding budgets, especially when it comes to florals. She has found that, most of the time, couples don’t have a clear understanding of how much a wedding truly costs at the start of the process. That’s why she emphasizes transparency from day one, helping clients understand which elements are essential, which can be skipped, and how to stretch their budget without compromising their vision. 

“Florals are one of the trickiest categories when wedding planning. They are beautiful, emotional but often underestimated in cost,” Katie shared. However, she went on to explain that clients appreciate honesty, especially when working with tighter budgets. Realigning expectations early often helps avoid disappointment later, which is a topic I frequently discuss in my blogs and with my clients. This fosters trust and cultivates genuine relationships with couples, which is one of the most rewarding aspects of this job.

When recommending vendors to her clients, Katie looks first at style and budget. But beyond that, she seeks out professionals who are adaptable, passionate, and genuinely client-focused. She believes the best vendors are the ones who “go with the flow” and work collaboratively to make things happen.

“As a wedding planner here in Nashville, TN, I feel so lucky to be surrounded by incredible vendors in this industry,” Katie discussed. She shared how the Nashville wedding vendor community is a special group to be a part of and that she is honored to work with so many outstanding and talented individuals throughout this area. She also shared how she is always looking to connect and work with new vendors and loves working with floral partners who not only understand a client’s aesthetic but can also deliver within a realistic budget.

For couples who book her partial planning package, Katie typically introduces florists into the planning process about 10 months to a year before the big day, right after finalizing catering and rentals. Coordination-only clients may receive florist recommendations if they ask, but for the most part, the timing depends on the level of service.

One of her favorite wedding themes was this past April, where she worked with a couple and their wedding vendors to create a Palm Springs-inspired wedding. The event featured dried florals, disco balls and bold design choices, an aesthetic that required just the right creative touch. The florist delivered beautifully, working within the guidelines while still infusing the design with unique personality. For Katie, it was a perfect example of collaboration and vision done right.

Other trends Katie has seen growing this year are couples leaning into more natural, green-forward designs with a fresh focus on color. Light and dark blues are becoming especially popular, along with classic whites and greens. For fall weddings, moodier palettes are making a comeback.

Looking ahead to Fall 2025, Katie is already coordinating a diverse mix of weddings, with thirteen on the books so far. One recent garden party wedding had to be moved indoors due to weather, but still turned out stunning thanks to thoughtful design choices. Some of her favorite styles this year so far have been more eclectic, creative food stations, and color palettes that blend winter and spring aesthetics.

For florists looking to build stronger relationships with planners, Katie’s advice is simple, “Communicate clearly and promptly. Delays in proposals and quotes can cause a ripple effect throughout the planning process.” She encourages florists to share general pricing ranges and inspiration ideas early on, as it helps set expectations and builds trust between all parties.

Most importantly, she emphasizes that the best weddings happen when vendors respect one another’s roles and work as a team and I could not agree with her more! 

Katie Osborne brings heart, honesty and creative direction to every wedding she touches. Her ability to lead with calm confidence and build strong relationships with clients and vendors alike is what makes her such a standout in the Nashville wedding community. Whether it’s navigating budgets, executing a bold design, or adjusting plans mid-storm, she shows up with grace and an evident passion for helping couples truly enjoy their special day.

Thank you, Katie, for taking the time to sit down and chat with me. I look forward to working together soon! 

Katie Osbore Wedding and Event Coordination Team

Want to learn more about Katie and her incredible business? Connect with her below:

Instagram: katieocoordination

Facebook: Katie Osborne Wedding and Event Coordination

Website: https://katieocoordination.com/

Planning Your 2025 or 2026 Wedding? Let’s Make It Bloom.

If you’re dreaming up your wedding day and ready to bring your floral vision to life, I’d love to chat. At The Floral Pop, we specialize in florals that are thoughtfully designed to suit your taste and style. Now booking 2025 and 2026 weddings, and as always, fall dates tend to fill up fast!

Let’s create something unforgettable together. Click HERE to connect!